The addition of new Pokémon in Niantic's hit mobile app Pokémon GO has been an evidently slow process since the app launched, but the company seems like it's doing its best.
In previous updates, gamers saw the addition of Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno, not to mention special edition Pikachus, and some monsters from the much-requested Johto region.
Now, clever gamers have datamined the latest Pokémon GO update and discovered fantastic news: Even more Pokémon are coming to the roster, and this time around, they're from the Hoenn region or otherwise called third-generation Pokémon. Players first got a taste of exploring Hoenn in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. The region is noted for its large bodies of water.
Pokémon GO Update: Gen 3 Monsters Are Coming
As a user in the Pokémon fan community The Silph Road has discovered, Pokémon GO update 0.79.2, which Niantic released on Sunday, Oct. 15, includes a new splash screen featuring third-generation monsters such as Dusclops, Shuppet, Banette, Duskull, and Sableye — behind them a large full moon hovers, and on the foreground are a smattering of pumpkins. The eerie vibe of the image is unmistakably Halloween-themed. Take a look below:
The update also comes with sound files for the third-generation Pokédex up to number 386, in addition to a new badge to reward players for catching monsters from the third generation, brand-new music, bug fixes, performance improvements, and more. Check out the full changes on Reddit.
Gen 3 Pokémon
As mentioned, third-generation Pokémon debuted in Game Boy Advance titles Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire in 2003, then Hoenn was featured again in Pokémon Emerald in 2004. The Pokémon Company remade Ruby and Sapphire for the 3DS in 2014, calling them Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Niantic has yet to give any information about the mobile game's Halloween event, which seems all but confirmed. That said, the company did tease about "catching new Pokémon to fill out our Pokédex" in a recent Halloween-themed blog post.
There will certainly be extras and bonuses in the upcoming Halloween event, as last year's event gave players double candy and increased spawn rates for Ghost-type Pokémon.
Hopefully, Niantic does finally include third-generation Pokémon in the roster because the game, while still a hit among fans, sorely needs new updates to remain fresh. Players don't have to worry, though. The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara hinted last month that the game was going to be more like the mainline Pokémon entries, saying trainer-to-trainer battling and trading are on the cards.
